White Earth Band member Audra Tonihka manages a varied loan portfolio that ranges from loans to businesses and consumers to debt consolidation. She loves speaking to new or expanding businesses.

What’s the biggest turning point in your career and how did that lead you to what you are doing today?

I think timing was my biggest turning point. I obtained an entry-level loan officer position with the local credit union and that opened up opportunities for becoming a finance officer in this company.

What are your job responsibilities today?

We’re a nonprofit loan fund that focuses generally on rural areas, and the majority of our loans go to tribal members who are located throughout the state. I run the organization on a day-to-day basis and oversee how we do on a macro-level, including loan deployments and delinquency rates.

What’s your proudest community achievement?

Building the building where we are located was important because there’s a lack of infrastructure here. It’s not just our office, it’s an incubator that currently has two businesses. Our concept is working so well and we’re thinking of adding a second incubator. We’ve also created a free tax-preparation service for tribal members.

What’s the best advice you received from a mentor, and what’s your best advice to women entering your field?

Watching my mentors and how they reacted to various scenarios and issues taught me a lot, especially in dealing with conflict. I think the financial industry as a whole offers just tons of opportunity for anyone who is interested not just in numbers but in people. This isn’t only an office job — I’m often out in the field speaking to people.